A man died early Sunday after losing control of his motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened around 12:40 a.m. on Dempsey Road, west of the Croom Wildlife Management Area, troopers said. Richard Dale Outten, 50, of Brooksville, was driving north near the intersection of Malvern Street when his motorcycle overturned on its left side, according to the patrol. Thrown from the 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail, Outten slid into the grass shoulder and hit a road sign. His motorcycle struck a fence. Outten, who the patrol said was not wearing a helmet, died on the scene. The patrol is still investigating the crash.

BUSHNELL

I-75 open after multiple crashes

Heavy rains likely played a role in causing 11 crashes among 27 vehicles Sunday afternoon and temporarily closing a stretch of northbound Interstate 75. Seven people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crashes began around 2 p.m. Troopers soon closed the northbound lanes between the Bushnell and Lake Panasoffkee exits in Sumter County. The patrol reopened the highway around 4:30 p.m.

PLANT CITY

Police: Driver dies in second crash

After leaving the scene of another crash, a man lost control of his sport utility vehicle and died Saturday when it overturned, police said. Around 9:10 p.m., an SUV traveling north on the James L. Redman Parkway struck the rear right corner of another vehicle, according to Plant City police. But the SUV drove away from the crash scene, continuing on the parkway. The SUV, a Chevrolet Suburban, headed east on E Park Road, turning south on Walden Woods Drive. On that road, the vehicle hit a curb and the driver lost control, police said. The SUV struck a tree and overturned. The driver, 29-year-old Jorge Hernandez-Sargento of Plant City, was ejected and died at the scene, police said. A passenger, Elnar Osorio, 34, of Plant City, suffered minor injuries. The investigation continues.